Independent Educational Evaluations: It’s a Testy Business!

What is an IEE? The language regarding IEEs is found in the regulations implementing IDEA. Specifically, the right to an IEE is defined as: “A parent has the right to an independent educational evaluation at the public expense if the parent disagrees with an evaluation obtained by the public agency. However, the public agency may initiate a hearing under Reg, 300.506 of this subpart to show that its evaluation is appropriate. If the final decision is that the evaluation is read more

Responsibilities and Timelines Regarding Parent Requests for Special Education Evaluations under the IDEA, TEC, and TAC

A new “To The Administrator Addressed Correspondence” letter has been posted on the TEA website: February 26, 2018 TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED: SUBJECT: Responsibilities and Timelines Regarding Parent Requests for Special Education Evaluations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Texas Education Code (TEC), and the Texas Administrative Code (TAC). In late 2016, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) initiated visits to Texas to learn about referral, child find, and evaluation practices within read more

Update on Texas Corrective Action Plan

TEA has posted some new documents at https://tea.texas.gov/TexasSPED/ that provide additional information. We have not reviewed it all yet, but would direct your attention first to the presentation to the state special education directors from their recent meeting in Austin  – TCASE Special Education Update presented on 2/20/2018. It gives more information on their plans involving ESCs.  

TEA extends survey deadline for special education corrective action draft plan

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has extended the comment deadline for its online survey soliciting feedback on a draft corrective action plan for special education. The online survey period will now run through Tuesday, Feb.20. At the direction of Governor Greg Abbott, TEA drafted an initial corrective action plan regarding the support and delivery of special education services in the state’s public schools. The initial draft addresses all issues identified in a recent federal monitoring report, including the proper identification read more